Chris2112

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='1252992' date='Jun 1 2011, 06:38 PM']FWIW I'm not a Jaco fan but I thought you got a really good fretless tone from a fretted bass.[/quote] I have to say Wayne, that sounded nothing like a fretless bass.

[quote name='GeeCee' post='1230357' date='May 13 2011, 07:56 PM']Here are mine: [attachment=79827:IMG_3064.JPG] L-R: GA24 5-string, Series I ("Classic") Mark King, Calibas 6-string fretted, Jaco Pastorius (basically a '62 jazz copy) and Calibas 6-string fretless[/quote] That is quite a remarkable collection!

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' post='1252570' date='Jun 1 2011, 12:19 PM']Not sure about the John McLaughlin comment though. Early on (i.e. the Extrapolation album) he definitely swung, and if his rythmic feel changed later on it was probably a stylistic choice rather than a deficiency.[/quote] And he was so much better for leaving swing behind. That whole swing feel is just so tired and done to death. His wild fusion feel of later years was so much better!

Well, yes. Shops have effectively had to stop carrying the outlandish gear to get by. Selling boutique basses is really an online only proposition now too. I'd love a Luthier's Access Group type thing in this country but there is just no market for it. GAK and Thomann have squeezed the competition out!

[quote name='steve-soar' post='1249707' date='May 29 2011, 09:52 PM']WHAT WE NEED IS MORE POST LEVEL 42 TUNELESS SLAP. [/quote] Now there is some textbook 'crap slap'. And this is coming from me, a great lover of high speed, triplet heavy slap. That just sounds like a skeleton w***ing in a filing cabinet.

[quote name='xgsjx' post='1248683' date='May 28 2011, 09:34 PM']Just DON'T end up like this! [/quote] This is clearly an extremely bad rendition of "If This Bass Could Only Talk" by Stanley Clarke, which is a rather good solo piece when it's not played by an imcompetant, shambling fool. Here is an unaccompanied version, it's not great either but gives a better idea of what it's meant to sound like!

[quote name='Ben Jamin' post='1249832' date='May 30 2011, 12:48 AM']Might be worth checking out a couple of 2010/11 Muse live shows, like the Seattle one they did a while back. Although half the time he'll be going through some fuzz/synth pedal [/quote] He might as well be playing a Squier P bass given the amount of effects he uses!

[quote name='Machines' post='1248733' date='May 28 2011, 10:34 PM']Thanks for the links guys, they do sound pretty good. What is the neck pickup like alone, can it do fat ? So far all of the tones i've heard so far are very clear bridge/finger tones I think.[/quote] Typical neck pickup when solo sound, not very good! They will always sound like a Status bass, but it's a sound that is at home anywhere if you'll let it be. I used to love really bright bass sounds, and my Stealth could be so bright it was too much, very harsh and zingy. It was a great bass, though I've since learned that the midrange is truly the be all and end all! The bridge pickup alone should sound fairly decent, certainly useable even if it's not going to be one of the legendary solo bridge pickup sounds.

They do. I don't think they need truss rods at all, they're a ridiculous idea on graphite necked basses.

Good tapping tone - plug in a Kubicki and away you go! In all seriousness, I think developing hand strength is the most important aspect to start with. This will help you get an even, controlled sound from every note, no matter which finger you use. And becoming adept at using free fingers to mute strings as you need to. I basically started learning to tap listening to Stuart Hamm, playing an Ibanez BTB and a Kubicki. Then once you've learned how to do it you can stop, or do it in small quantities. I've found that outside of Stuart Hamm and Michael Manring tap quickly becomes quite dull and often sounds vert overdone and contrived.

I'd go to Bass Central. Beaver Felton has the contacts to get you pretty much whatever you want and the stock there is always good. Mind you, I remember a few years ago before the economic downturn, Bass Central had the most amazing stock list you can imagine. Either or Ishibashi.

The Killers and Brandon Flowers' solo act. That would be a great gig, I know most of the material already!

I'm looking forward to getting home from work and hearing these samples!